San Lucas

New Arrival Alert! For the second year we have partnered with the producers at Café Juan Ana to offer this limited honey-process coffee from Guatemala. The honey process leaves varying amounts of mucilage (the sticky layer under the fruit skin) on the seed while drying, producing unique flavors and mouthfeel. Try it now before it’s gone!

This delightful coffee is produced by growers in the San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala region. The name Lucas comes from the Latin “luce”, so San Lucas means “luminous” or “illuminated”. This town has been the site of a Catholic mission since the 1960s when Father Greg Schaeffer as a young man was appointed there, not much to his liking, upon graduation from seminary. His intent was to spend the obligatory time and return to the United States to resume life. Father Greg found his calling with the people of San Lucas and remained there until his death in 2012. He devoted his life not only to spiritual guidance but also to the economic development of the community. This coffee is one result of the many projects that takes place in San Lucas. Each October the Fair of San Lucas Tolimán takes place to honor the town’s Patron Saint Luke (San Lucas). In Catholic tradition, a novena is held October 9 through 17, culminating with Holy Eucharist. The general fair, from October 15 through 20, includes a special market with clothing, kitchen accessories, and sweets, amusements and rides, school bands and music, and marimba dancing. Queens are elected each year to represent the townspeople. The main queen is called Flor del Café because coffee is the crop that identifies the people. The parade is led by the queens (Flor del Café and Kime al Loyá, Mayan queen of sport), and civil and municipal authorities and other town organizations participate, all wearing traditional dress or their best clothes. At 3am on October 18 “bombs and rockets” (fireworks) are set off for a full hour by the Parish Church rocketeers. People from surrounding villages especially look forward to these events and arrive in San Lucas to participate in the festivities. I hope you will enjoy this distinctive coffee, especially during the month of October, with thoughts of the people and coffee growers in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala.

A full-circle coffee! Learn about how Lesa Wilson, Caffe Ibis President & CFO, led a school-aged youth group to support the San Lucas Mission in Guatemala 26 years ago. Coming full-circle, this honey process coffee is from the same San Lucas Mission’s coffee program, Café Juan Ana.  Learn more about the story here!